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Board approves HVAC and scoreboard contracts, accepts 13.8% increase in medical premiums
Summary
At the Sept. 22 Westerville board meeting, trustees approved design and construction contracts for FY26 HVAC upgrades and South High scoreboards and authorized an increase in district medical premium rates of about 13.8% for calendar year 2026.
The Westerville City Schools Board of Education voted Sept. 22 to approve several facility and insurance items brought forward by district staff.
The board approved a not-to-exceed $386,000 contract with Osborne Engineering to design FY26 HVAC projects across nine buildings, using permanent-improvement funds. Carrie Dennis, chief operations officer, described project elements that include rooftop-unit replacements, an IT-room mini-split to protect equipment at the early-learning center, replacement of air-handling units and upgrades at the high school HVAC systems.
The board also approved a $37,200 construction contract with JL Dimmel LLC d/b/a Digital Scoreboards Ohio to remove and replace the baseball and softball scoreboards at Westerville South High School. The district noted athletic boosters contributed funds to those scoreboard replacements.
On benefits, the board approved a roughly 13.8% increase in the district's medical insurance premiums for calendar year 2026; dental and vision rates remain unchanged. Nicole Marshall, district finance staff, told the board the district is self-insured for medical coverage, purchases stop-loss protection and works with an insurance broker to set premiums. Marshall said health-care claims and Central Ohio medical costs are driving the increase.
Other routine actions included updated appropriations and the district's forecast filing steps required under the state budget law. The board then adjourned after taking public comment on the fiscal forecast and proposed reduction plan tied to the Nov. 4 ballot measure.
The approved contracts will be funded from permanent-improvement funds, and the district said design and work will proceed according to the project schedule. The approved premium increases go into effect for the 2026 plan year; staff said open enrollment will begin Oct. 1 for employees to select coverage.
